ABT Schaeffler Audi Formula E Team Have High Expectations for Inaugural Mexico City Race

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This Saturday, the Formula E team of ABT Schaeffler Audi will take on the 1.3 mile track in Mexico City for the first time. Fans and drivers look forward to the course in the metropolis that is known for its enthusiasm for motorsports, with a record 40,000 spectators expected.

As the exclusive technology partner to the ABT Schaeffler Audi Formula E Team, Schaeffler completely redesigned the engine and transmission in the fully electric race car's drivetrain for this season.

According to Schaeffler chief technology officer Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer, who is responsible for drivetrain developments, key characteristics of the Formula E engine are: optimized torque; improved peak efficiency; enhanced thermal management due to modified cooling; and high reliability. It now includes a new three-speed transmission, minimizing the number of shifting events per lap, as well as optimized suspension, now featuring higher stiffness and improved kinematics, and newly developed software that manages the interaction between all components.

"Our collaboration with ABT Sportsline is a great fit for our vision, as electric mobility as a whole will significantly define the mobility of the future," said Gutzmer. "The core element of the ABT Schaeffler FE01 car is the electric motor, which has better torque and efficiency than its predecessor."

Following four podium finishes in the first four races of the season, driver Lucas di Grassi of the ABT Schaeffler Audi team is ranked in second place in the international electric racing series.

The fifth race of the season starts on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. CT (Central Time) in the heart of Mexico City. The circuit will use a segment of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, longtime home of Formula 1 races since 1962. Three weeks later, on April 2, Formula E returns to Long Beach, Calif. and its 1.3 mile circuit on the outskirts of Los Angeles before the championship heads off to Europe to finish the season.

About Schaeffler
The Schaeffler Group is a leading global integrated automotive and industrial supplier. The company stands for the highest quality, outstanding technology, and strong innovative ability. The Schaeffler Group makes a key contribution to "Mobility for tomorrow" with high-precision components and systems in engine, transmission, and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The technology company generated sales of approximately EUR 12.1 billion in 2014. With around 84,000 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world's largest family companies and, with approximately 170 locations in 50 countries, has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, and sales companies.

Schaeffler is a recognized development partner for global automakers and suppliers. To serve the North American automotive market, Schaeffler operates development centers in: Troy, Mich.; Fort Mill, S.C.; Wooster, Ohio; and Puebla, Mexico. The company's 600 North American engineers and technicians, who are supported by a team of more than 6,400 global R&D engineers, drive development in the region by utilizing state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment, computational tools and CAD systems. Schaeffler Automotive has headquarters in Fort Mill and manufacturing facilities in: South Carolina; Missouri; Ohio; Ontario, Canada; Puebla and Irapuato, Mexico. For more information, please visit www.schaeffler.us. 

SOURCE Schaeffler

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